At Home Spa Treatments with Spa Reveil

Spa Reveil in Austin Texas is my favorite place to relax and get pampered. It is the perfect mini vacation. Their luxurious treatments take you to another world.

With money being a bit tight right now, I asked them how I could relax at home without spending a lot of money. They gave me some great ideas. Check em' out.

For your Face: Exfoliation is key! Spa Reveil says, "When dead skin is removed, beautiful, more radiant skin is revealed."
At the spa they use Naturopathica Pumpkin Enzyme Peel. It's amazing stuff, Here is how to create this at home:

4 tbsp. pumpkin puree
1 tsp. honey
2 tsp. aloe vera gel
1/2 tsp. sunflower oil
3 tsp. cornmeal

Blend pumpkin, honey and aloe together. Stir in sunflower oil and cornmeal. Gently buff into the skin. To further enhance ingredients, leave a thin layer on the face as a mask for 10-15 minutes. Rinse and moisturize with Naturopathica's Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream is recommended.

For your Body: Exfoliation is a must here as well. Spa Reveil says, "Remembering to care for your whole body by exfoliating, this will provide more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, it will even help with ingrown hairs."

They use the Naturopathica Espresso Mud Mask. Here is how to create this at home:

3 tbsp. coarsely ground coffee beans
2 tsp. powdered milk
1 tbsp. sunflower oil
pinch of cocoa powder

Use in the shower after cleansing. Gently exfoliate the skin in a circular motion remembering dryer area such as heels, elbows and ankles. Rinse and apply body lotion. Our favorite is Naturopathica's new Bourbon Vanilla Body Lotion.

Go Simple! and get in the bath: This is an easy way to relax.

Spa Reveil says "Lavender helps to purify the body and spirit and alleviates a range of aliments such as insomnia, anxiety, depression and pain relief."

Naturopathica French Lavender Soothing Bath and Body Oil -- how to create this at home:

8-10 drops of Lavender Oil to warm bath water.
Soak for 15-20 minutes.
While in bath you can also add 9 drops of Lavender Oil to 1 tbsp. of carrier oil (example: almond and sunflower oil) for isolate massage and pain relief.

So I dug a little deeper to find out why one would want to rub themselves with pumpkin and coffee.

Why Pumpkin? It's a nutritional powerhouse; it’s rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene, as well as such other cancer-fighting carotenoids as lutein and zeaxanthin. Pumpkin also boasts B vitamins, niacin, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, and vitamins A and C. The seeds are laden with zinc, a natural sunblock and antioxidant. Pumpkin seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids. They’re very effective in regulating the skin’s own sebum production, so pumpkin seed oil is great for oily or acne-prone skin, and it also balances dry skin. Pumpkin is most commonly used in facial treatments; its active enzymes provide a natural chemical exfoliation.

Why Coffee? For years, caffeine in coffee has been used in products sold to reduce cellulite. It's clear that caffeine dehydrates fat cells by somehow energizing them which in turn causes the sodium/potassium component of the cells to vacate. Consequently, water disappears as well. Bottom line - skin on buttocks and thighs becomes smoother. Dermatologists and scientists also laud coffee's effectiveness and versatility. "Coffee offers multiple benefits," says Doris J. Day, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. When broken down and applied to the skin, its most potent elements (caffeine and the berries that contain the beans) can fight wrinkles, calm redness, reduce swelling, and, according to new research, may even help prevent skin cancer.